The Ireland team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship this Saturday has been named.
The side shows two changes to the starting fifteen from the last outing, with both changes being made to the backline. Craig Gilroy, who missed the game against France with a groin strain, returns on the right wing in place of Fergus McFadden who is unavailable due to a rib injury.
Jonathan Sexton also returns to the team to start at outhalf after missing the past three games due to a hamstring injury, with Paddy Jackson moving to the replacements in place of Ian Madigan.
There is also a further change among the replacements with Devin Toner coming into the match squad in place of Donncha O’Callaghan.
The Ireland Team to play Italy on Saturday 16th March 2013 in Stadio Olimpico, Rome in the RBS 6 Nations Championship, K.O. 2.30pm (local time), is:
(Player/club/province/international caps):
15 – Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster/45)
14 – Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster/4)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster/124)
12 – Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster/2)
11 – Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster/38)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary’s College/Leinster/36)
9 – Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster/18)
1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster/38)
2 – Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster/66)
3 – Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster/28)
4 – Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht/9)
5 – Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster/27)
6 – Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster/13)
7 – Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster/26)
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster/56) Captain
Replacements:
16 – Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster/25)
17 – David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/6)
18 – Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
19 – Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/4)
20 – Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster/4)
21 – Paul Marshall (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
22 – Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster/2)
23 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College /Leinster/25)
*Denotes uncapped player
